Basic notions for voice recording on an arrangement.

Introduction to Reaper by Ambrogio Riva

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Premise

On various singing forums I have seen a lot of enthusiasm and listened to talented singers.

However, voice recording and mixing sometimes was not up to their talent.

Of course, there are many details to take care of to obtain a good result, especially

instruments, environment acoustic treatment, software, editing and effects, and mix.

For each of these aspects there are manuals, courses and readings on the internet.

For what concerns the software used to record and mix, currently I believe that it is

practically essential to use a sequencer that manages the virtual effects in real time.

A sequencer allows you to easily manage a number of audio tracks and for example to

select the best parts of voice recording or to enrich the arrangement by adding other

instruments.

Freeware effects for all types of treatment are now available (eq, comp, reverb, limiter, etc.)

GUI and wu-meter and lead that enable you to intervene more effectively.

A sequencer also allows you to use not just effects, but also virtual instruments: synth,

piano, drums, strings, basses, guitars to improve the quality for example of a midi

arrangement.

Reaper allows you to do all this with high standard features and functionality. It also

enables a full evaluation without any limits of use before buying the license.

To install Reaper open the page www.reaper.fm and select download.

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For those who use Windows 7 or higher check if your operating system is 64-bit ( Control

Panel > System )

Reaper is not freeware for personal use but the purchase of the license has very limited

costs. In any case it is possible to use it for at least 60 days using the " evaluation" option.

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When you first start up the program, it asks you to configure the sound card.

In the absence of a professional sound card, drivers asio4all must be installed to use ASIO

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Using Driver asio4all in PREFERENCES menu, select " ASIO configuration " for the

control panel, click on the wrench, click " + IDT High Definition " and set inputs-outputs: if

you do not hear the sound or fail to record you have to try to change settings here.

To insert an audio file ( eg the arrangement. ) choose " INSERT > MEDIA FILES "

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To import multiple files select them all and drag them directly into the window of Reaper.

In case of multiple audio files import answer yes to put them on different tracks.

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For voice recording from microphone insert a new track and set a mono ( L or R ) as mono

input. To understand which channel ( L or R ) the mic is connected to you'll have to look at

the signal level.

So " arm " the track with the button with the red circle ( record armed ).

To start the recording, at this point, press the " big " red button near the playback controls

of the sequencer, see below " record " or use the keyboard shortcuts ( Ctrl + R )

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It is important to " be at ease " with the sequencer so for those who prefer to have, for

example, at least a part of the menu in Italian ( the full translation is not available ) you can

find it here: www.decarider.com/menuset2.html

To install the Italian menu follow these steps:

1) select the menu " OPTIONS" > " CUSTOMIZE MENUS / TOOLBARS "

2) to store the original menu choose " Export All Menus / Toolbars " and save the file

3) then load with "IMPORT ALL MENUS / TOOLBARS... " the file MENUSET

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Another useful option when working with several files is to color the traces of different

colors to differentiate drum parts from instrumental ones, vocal ones from choirs.

Select the tracks and if you have set the Italian menuset "SET TRACKS COLORS " will be

active.

This course does not want to explain all the characteristics of Reaper but, for example, just

to show the power and the care with which it was developed. On the toolbar it is available

the UNDO MULTIPLE command ( see mouse ) to go back all at once up to the beginning of

the changes.

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If several voice recordings are made on a single arrangement, to choose the best parts put

the arrow in the exact spot, select one or more tracks and use the " DIVIDE ITEMS ON

ARROW " command. Then the individual parts of the track can be moved both horizontal

and vertical, copied, and eventually deleted.

To set up the left-right selection (the white bar below) simply click on the time bar with the

left button of the mouse and drag the arrow towards left or right. If you want to turn off the

snap (not to be bound to the measures in the selection) select the green icon in a semicircle

(the one located on the left of the lock) or use the keyboard shortcut < ALT + S >

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On each track you can insert virtual effects in real time, many of which have already been

installed with the program. Others are freely downloadable from the internet in " VST"

There is a wide variety of plug-ins: reverb, saturators, comp- limiter, EQ, chorus etc.

Once downloaded and installed the effects by clicking the " FX " button of a track you can

access the window highlighted below on the left where you can select the effects (FX button)

and modify them (edit).

The first time, however, we have to set the options to tell Reaper in which folder they have

been installed.

Choosing " options" the subfolder " preferences " opens up, here we must select the " VST

plug-in patch " folder on the computer (eg "C:\ program files ( x86 )\ steinberg\vstplugins" )

and click " RE - SCAN ".

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Once inserted the effect on the track, set up the various options and listen to the changes as

the song flows. Once obtained the desired result it is recommended to save the preset by

clicking the + button to add it to the list of presets already available to the left of the

button + (before you can scroll through the presets already available to carry out only

minor changes)

We are at the end of this brief

introduction to Reaper. Now, we may

have learned how to import one or

more tracks, record a voice in an

empty track, choose the best take and

attach effects. After having set up the

volume to balance the arrangement

with the vocal track you can run the

render or export a stereo audio track

of our project using the " RENDER

TO FILE " command

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Recording of a vocal track to be sent to an external partner.

If you are good singers you may be asked to record "at home" and then send the file.

To work "remotely" you should, however, pay attention to these simple rules:

1) before recording, place the arrangement at the beginning of the project (time 00:00)

2) while recording, use closed headphones (or even simple earphones) to listen to the

arrangement and prevent its sound to be recorded with your voice.

3) try to limit the "echo" of the recording room, especially if you use a condenser

microphone: it may be sufficient to place with the back towards an open closet full of

clothes and put a couple of panels with wool rock of high density and high thickness

packed in plastic bags behind the microphone as well as a thigh carpet on the floor.

4) no effect should be applied to the track and, unless otherwise indicated, perform the

render (export) in WAV format, 24-bit mono, 44.1 kHz sample rate (or ev. 48 kHz)

5) even if you have recorded a short part in the middle of a track, the render must be

always started from the beginning (time 0:00) in order to then synchronize it with the

arrangement.

6) If you have recorded multiple tracks (eg. A second voice) remember to always send

separate tracks.

COPYRIGHT

All trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners.

Herein links to programs and sites are present: access to sites and programs downloading

and installing is at your own risk and I am not liable for any damage or any problem. This

information is provided free of charge and for illustration, the applicability of the various

operating systems cannot be ensured.

In any case please refer to the websites of the different companies for more detailed and

complete information.

Ambrogio Riva Valfurva, 21/8/2015

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